Brake operating or similar mechanism



Nov. 28, 19-50 A. ORSCHELN BRAKE OPERATING OR SIMILAR MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I Filed Dec. 27, 1948 4mm 0mm,

A me/vars NW. 2, 1950 A. ORSCHELN 2,531,740

BRAKE OPERATING 0R SIMILAR MECHANISM Filed Dec. 2'7, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f1. 57. LLZL A Qwuwwtm- ATTORNEYS UNITED PATENT OFFICE BRAKE; OPERATINQ 0R SIMILAR MEQ NISM Albert OrschelmMoberlm MQ assignor ofthirtyfive ne-hundredths to ;Wi1liam-;0. Orscheln, Moberly, Mo *thirty-five one -hundredths v to Edwardflvflrscheln, Columbia, "1M0 ten one- :hundredtha towTheodorefB; Grscheln, Granite .Q 11 1- an en o -hundr dt e Aloys u G rsQh ImKanSa C pM Application December 27, 1948;SeriaLNo;67,499

:My invention relates tovehicle brake operating on similal mechanismsof the general type shown in my U. S.=Patent No.1 2,171,403, August 29;1939, and my pending applications serial N0s. 7-'Z0;518

and 770,519 (noW Patent 1N0. 2,464g096), both filed August 25, -IEMZ-the present-application being a continuation in part of -Seria1=- No. 770,5l8 (nowabandoned).

The invention is it particularly adapted 1 for the hand operated emergency-onparking -brakeof a motor vehicle, and its primaryobject is toprovide amechanism well adapted to motor =vehicles of present-day- -designs,-which hasfew and simple partsand-hence may be manufactured and -installed expeditiously and at reasonable costmwhich may. be easily adjusted by the user of the vehicle to oompensate for-wear of the brake hands and --other parts, and which will be reliablevand effective in operation.

:Further objects of the invention are to provide. an improved structure of this character in which the hand lever will have. Ear-much shorter operating stroke than in the mechanisms .of my previous :inventions, in which the hand lever will exert a pushing "force: to -.1 actuate the brake cable, rod orsimilar connectionrather: than. have a .pullingaction, in which the?handdeveryduringiits brakeactuatingstroke, :will. initially-have a: low mechanical advantage and produce-.a rapid takempuof; thegcableland duringathevremainder ofzthestroke 1. the mechanical advantage willrintreas .wh le e speed lointheztake up=ofr the-cable vilkclecreasa -inl whi hthe. hand leverowilh give h ab t fitrai htrlineimovement .as: it. leaves the cable armor or housing in the brakeactuating strokegof the lever, and: inzwhich theichand lever is so connected that itpasses over sdead center-at the. end ,of its. actuating stroke thereby effeoting a simple lock ,fforthelever rendering the conventional pawl and; ratchet. lock unnecessary. .;=Additiona1objeets and advantages willbe made manifest in the following specificationofeappae ratl lsincorporating the; invention, it being unde ood t m ifi a i n var ations land adaptations may; be resortedto-within the spirit andscope and the principlespf the iIlVBXl'lZiOIl'JfiS herein claimed.

:I h accompanying; d aw s. illustratinath preferr d em od o mvi v n o L1Fig... 1,. is a longitudinalsectional view through a portion of an automobileshowing one. applicat on of the improved. l me han sm; partsmbein in elevation.

-.Ei g.,2.is an elevation of one siclepfi the mechabrake ofi position.

lEig. :3 is. a tsimilar -view of i the other side: of the mechanism-shown in Fig. 2.

"lFig. 4 is. a View: similar to: Fig. .2 hut. ShOWzlIl the handL-leveriinmits operativeror brake Winn" position. i

t'Fig. is a top .view :with: thewpartscinl the: position shown inrEig.s4=.

High 6 is a tcletail sectional .view on .therplane of =1i ne.=6. -:-6 in' FignZ.

NEig. 7 5318 la ldetail tSBCtiOHT taken on: line l1. ?-1 ofi Fig. 4.

'=Figs. i8 sand 8aiare1diagramsm ::Referring in idetail:tovthendrawings Hindenotes. a :hand" lever supportediinea .-.downwai=dly and rearwardly inclined: position (from: a horizontally. disposed. supporting. and attaching: lnody ll suitablyfixed beneath the cowling of the automobilelast indicated .inliFig. 1 1. 1 In the 1atter a.=.co,nventiona1 brake .133 .is .:associated :with the propeller :shaftqandgis iacsuated .by ia .cable 11-2 extending 2 through iastubular sarmorl orw housing 13 abut. the improved mechanism dis :adapte'dmto operatevanytothenformrofsbrake and the operating connection i2 may=.-take .thei form-charred or the like.

The body; I I: is preferably; in: the form .ofear flat rectangular xmetalrplatewhichi is verticallyr'rdisposed and extendsttorwardlyiandwrearwardly;its npperportion being.- provided ivithea rowofeholes l4 .to receive .bolts or similara fastenings; l 5iwhere by it is$secured- ,.-to .la: frame member .under tithe cowling .01: instrument: panel. .Bod epanel H is tor-med. .nearzgits lower. edgelanduatuitsfIOHtnDOIE- tionl-lvvith a longitudinal-1y extending .slotsiB land theleye "leis fulcrwf eduatnits uppera endome. .bolt or otherepivotrt'lalocated uni-plate llt'sillithe horizontalmam of... slot; 16 ;and.lto: the; rear-of the latter.

xgLever I9 isqpreferably termed;fromamstamped meta1,;plate and has: ,aestiifeningi edge 'fiangemw but its lowewfre en nrovidednvith,aisuitable hand: et mwh' h 1 .n it dinallylcurvedtand hicke m .-.se i on an. th a na n. portion ofith ll ver. .eAsse nn. F g-t5 thelilllcmlmed an 9 t e. .l ve ei latera v offise oewn actmith plat e th t v a lhs thatpth major ortio thei eve x pacedu ro th zznlat z to k 1 1! 9 connected .at "on i ot emend toea-lzslide 2o I... L.., i a e nsl 4 W v Q u te v.;fi e -:t one has-lay Wel in etine o iinteeralniormatlon, and} to e t e r-fre -endtoffihe. 'slsuitabmcon, net s it i ra.

described. The link I ..1 slpresently is provided on its opposite lever is swung upwardly from the idle position shown in Fig. 2 tothe operative position shown in Fig. 4, the slidable pin will be pushed alon slot IE to pull the brake actuating cable l2, and that the pin 2| which forms the knee of the toggle can pass the dead-center of the lever and thus the lever will be locked in its on or brake applied position without the necessity of using the customary pawl and ratchet or other locking means for holding the brake applied. To limit the movement of the lever in its past-dead-center position a stop pin 22 may be welded or otherh wise secured to one face of plate H for engagement by an edge of the lever as seen in Fig. 4.

The connection of the slide or pin 20 to the brake cable is preferably accomplished as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. The end of pin 20 projecting beyond plate II is reduced as at 23 to enter an opening in one arm of a right angular link 24 and the link is retained on such reduced pivot 23 by a split resilient ring or key 25 having inwardly projecting portions to snap into an annular groove formed adjacent the end of the pivot 23. The other arm 26 of the angular link projects outwardly from the adjacent face of the plate I I and is apertured to receive an adjusting screw 21 having at one end an eye 28 engaged by an eye connection 29 secured to the end of the cable l2. Nuts 3!! on screw 27 engage opposite sides of the arm 26 and permit adjustment of the screw on the angle link 24. The cable armor I3 is rigidly anchored to the plate H by a suitable clamp 3| preferably a U-shaped strap having in its ends apertures so that they may be aligned with any pair of rows of apertures 32 formed in the rear portion of plate H, for the reception of bolts 33. The end of the armor 3 is held in substantial alignment with the slot l6 so that the cable will have a straight line movement as it leaves the armor when the brake is actuated.

The knee pin 2| of the toggle is adjustable longitudinally of the hand lever to enable the user of the vehicle to readily adjust the brakes to compensate for wear of the brake bands or shoes or of other connecting parts. This adjustment is preferably effected by an adjusting screw 34 swiveled for rotation on the hand lever and engaged with a nut member 35 pivoted on pin '2l which extends through and slides in a slot 36 formed in the lever. Pin 2| which has one end welded or riveted in link |9, extends through slot 36 and through a central circular opening formed in the yoke or U-shaped member 35, the latter being retained on the pivot pin 2| by a cotter pin or similar fastening such as the split resilient locking ring or key 38 having inwardly projecting tongues to spring into an annular groove formed in the pin as seen in Fig. 6. The two arms of the U-shaped nut member 35 have aligned threaded openings through which the threaded portion of the adjusting screw 34 extends. Screw 34 is aligned with the longitudinally extending slot 36 and its lower end is swiveled for rotation at 39 a little above the hand grip. A downwardly facing notch 40 is formed in the widened intermediate portion of the lever to accommodate a knurled finger piece 4| on the lower 4 extremity of the adjusting screw. The swiveled mounting is eifected by enlarging the edge flange of the lever to form a bearing ear at the upper end of notch 40, the screw being rotatable in said ear and being held against endwise movement by the fingerpiece on one side of the ear and a fixed collar or flange 42 on the other side.

It will be seen that when the fingerpiece or knob is rotated, the nut 35 will travel on the screw and carry with it the pin 2|, thus varying the length of one arm of the toggle and hence causing the slidable pin 20 to move to a greater or less extent in the guide slot i6 according to the direction of rotation of the adjusting screw. By this adjustment travel of the angle link 24 and consequently the travel of the brake cable or rod |2 on each brake actuating movement of the hand lever may be varied to easily and rapidly adjust any free play in the brake system resulting from wear or other causes.

The brakes will of course be fully applied when the lever hits the stop 22, but the extent of its downward movement to idle position will vary according to the adjustment of the pin 2! in the lever slot 36. The engagement of the pin 20 with the rear end of slot |6 limits the downward movement of the lever. When pin 2| is at the upper end of slot 36 the extent of movement of the lever will be a little less than 60 but when the pin 2| is adjusted to the lower end of said slot the lever movement will be about 45. The travel of the lever is therefore relatively short as compared with the mechanism of my above-mentioned Patent No. 2,171,403 as will be noted on reference to the diagrams of Figs. 8 and 8a. Fig. 8 shows the system of linkages of the present invention and it will be seen that by moving the lever l0 through an arc of 45 from point a to point b a. travel of the brake rod from A to B is obtained. Fig. 8a represents the system of linkages employed in my patent, and it will be seen that a 45 swing of the lever will move the brake rod from point A to B. The distance from A to B is twice that from A to B with the same degree of movement of the lever, and hence the present invention will give a greater travel of the brake rod with the same travel of the hand lever.

Because of the mounting of the lever and link it will be seen that at the beginning of the brake applying stroke of the lever there will be a rapid take up of the slack or free play in the system with a low mechanical advantage but as the stroke continues the mechanical advantage increases and there is a less rapid take up. It will be further observed that with this lever and link arrangement the brake cable will in effect be pushed in the brake applying operation rather than be pulled as in my prior inventions. Since the hand lever when it strikes stop, has carried the axis of the pivot pin 2| above the horizontal plane passing through the axes of pivots I1 and 20, the mechanism will be effectively held in brake on position and no other latching or locking means will be necessary to hold the brakes applied. In other words, the relation of said push link l9 and said slidable pin 20 with the lever fulcrum I! is such that the brake applying line of pull terminating at the pin 2| will move from one side of the lever fulcrum to the opposite side thereof when said lever is moved upwardly to brake applied position, and the lever will remain ifn said brake applied position until forced thererom.

It will be observed that the mechanism is such that it has only two positions, one in which the.

"brakes are completely *ori or applied and the other inwhich the brakes are completely 01?." This preventsthe possibility of dragging brakes, the "latter being a definitefire hazard when the usual hand brakes are left partly applied through "carelessness onthepart of the driver. It will of course be understood that when -the==brakes "are tobe release'dgit is only necessary to push the hand lever downwardly to a suflicient extent 'to brake the toggle, that is, move pin 2l to -the other side of the lever fulcrum, since gravity will cause the lever to swing downwardly until-pin 20* reaches'the rear end of slot [5, and the spring me'chanismassociated with the usual brakesawill *Whilethe present preferred embodiment of theinvention has been described, in detai1,-it will be understood that changes and variations dn-theform and arrangement of parts and :in 'detailsof construction, may be 'made' within 'the spiritand scope of the following claims.

I claim:

lwA-n apparatus of the character described having in combination a supporting plate posi- 'tioned' vertically beneath the instrument panel or 'a motorvehicle and extendingin a forward *and'rearward"direction, said plate having in its -forward "portion alongitudinally extending slot, a slide movable in said slot, a push linloconnected-atpne of**its--ends to said slide on one side of said plate, a hand lever pivoted at its upper end to said one side of said plate and positioned to the rear of said slot, a pivotal connection between the other end of said push link and an intermediate portion of said lever, a brake actuating element slidably mounted on the other side of said plate and connected to the other end of'said slide, the relation of-said push link and said slide with the 'lever fulcrum being such that when "the lever is swung upwardly to brakeapplied position the pivotal connection ofsaid link to-said lever will move from one side of said lever fulcrum tothe opposite side thereof causing said lever to remain in said brake-applied position until forced therefrom, and stop means for limiting the extentwhich said lever may 'move in brake applying direction.

2. The structure specified in claim l -in which said pivotal connection between said link and said lever is adjustable lengthwise of said lever,

together with manually operable means carried by said lever for adjusting said pivotal connection.

3. A brake operating or similar mechanism comprising an elongated body having means by which it may be fixedly mounted, a slide sup ported on said body for rectilinear movement adjacent one end of said body, a tensioned workperforming element connected to said slide and extending from the other end of said body, a lever fulcrumed at one of its ends on an intermediate portion of said body in longitudinally spaced relation to said slide and projecting from one side of said body, and a push link connected at one of its ends to said slide and at its other end to an intermediate portion of said lever, the relation of said push link and slide with the lever fulcrum being such that pull of said tensioned work-performing element terminating at the pivotal connection of said push link with said lever will move from one side of said lever fulcrum to the opposite side thereof when the free end of said lever is swung in the direction of said body to a predetermined point, causing said lever to remain at said predetermined point 8 until "forced zthere'from, sand stop "means cfor "stopping said lever at saidipredetermined'point.

lJiThe structure"of claim iiniwhi'chcsaid pivotal-"connectionof saidilink withsaid leverllris slidable longitudinally rof said" lever, together with means carried by said-lever for adjusting the last men'tioned pivota1 connection.

*5. A brake operating or similar mechanism comprisingan elongated body' having means by which it: may be 'fixedly mounted, a slide? supportedon said bodyfor rectilinear movement adjacent one endof said body, a tensioned =workperforming element connected to. said slide and extending from the other end of said body; a lever fulcrumed at one of its ends on an intermediate' portion of said bodytin longitudinally spaced relation to said slideand movable from anidle position in which it projects from one side ofsaidbodyto an operative position in which it extends longitudinally of said body, a push .link pivotallyconneCte'd at one of its ends to said slide and at its other end to an intermediate portion of said lever, said link and the portion of the lever between its' fulcrum andthe pivotalconnection of said link tosaid-leven forming altoggle' with the last-mentioned pivotal connection forming'the knee of the toggle andbeing movable past the dead center *of-saiddever-when said lever is moved to said operative position, and stop means for limiting the movement of said lever beyond said pastedead-oenter operative position.

6.-A brake operatingor -similar mechanism comprising an elongated plate vertically disposed arid' fixedly supported said plate having adjacent one end alongitudinally extending slot, al lever 'piv'otedat one of its ends on one side of said plate at a point longitudinally spaced from-one end of said slot; said leverbeingswingable from a downwardly inclined idle position to an upper operative position in which it extends inthe dired tion of thelength of said plate and atthe slotted portion of the latter, said lever having at its intermediate portion "a longitudinally extending slot, a push link disposed on the same sideof said plate as said lever and having on its opposite sidesopposit'ely projecting pivot pins; one of said pins-extending through and slidable in the-slot in said plate and the other pin projecting through and slidable in the slot of said lever, a tensioned work-performing element connected to the free end of said pin on the other side of said plate and extending from the end of said plate opposite that having said slot, a threaded nut member carried by the free end of said pin which extends through the slot in said lever, an adjusting screw swiveled for rotation on said lever and em gaged with said nut member, and a stop on said plate to limit the upward swinging movement of said lever when the axis of the pin in the lever slot passes the dead-center of the lever furcrum.

7. In a brake operating mechanism for a motor vehicle, a substantially-horizontal elongated support positioned beneath the instrument panel of a motor vehicle and extending in a forward and rearward direction, said support having at its forward portion a longitudinally extending guide, a slide movable in a forward and rearward direction in said guide, a vertically-swingable, brakeoperatin hand lever having its upper end fulcrumed to said support in rearwardly spaced relation to the rear end of said guide, said lever being movable from a normal brake-off position in which it extends in a downward and forward .1 direction from said support at an angle of approximately 47 to the longitudinal axis of said guide, to a brake-on position in which it extends Substantially horizontal and longitudinally of said support, a brake-actuating member connected to and extending rearwardly from said slide, said member being movable in a forward direction to apply a brake, a push link pivoted at one end to said slide and at its other end to an intermediate portion of said lever, said link being normally inclined in an upward and forward direction from said lever, the parts being so constructed and arranged that when said lever is swung from its brake-off position to its brake-on position said link will push said slide in a forward direction to move said brake-actuating member forwardly, and the pivotal connection of said link to said lever will move from one side of said lever fulcrum to the opposite side thereof, causing said lever to remain in its brake-on position until forced therefrom, and stop means to limit the upward Swinging movement of said lever.

8. In a brake operating mechanism for a motor vehicle, a flat, elongated supporting plate positioned vertically beneath the instrument board of a motor vehicle and extending in a forward and rearward direction, said plate having in its forward portion a longitudinally extending slot, a flat, vertically-swingable, brake-operating hand lever having a laterally-offset upper end contacting with one side of said plate and fulcrumed to the latter in rearwardly spaced relation to the rear end of said slot, said lever being movable from a normal brake-off position in which it extends in a downward and forward direction from said plate at an angle of approximately 47 to the longitudinal axis of said slot, to a brake-on position in which it extends substantially horizontal and longitudinally of said plate, said lever having in its intermediate portion a longitudinally extending slot, a guide at the rear portion of said plate on the side of the latter opposite said one side, a brake-actuating member in said guide and movable in a forward direction to apply a brake, a flat push link disposed between said lever and said plate, one cylindrical pin fixed to one side of said link at one of its ends and projecting through and slidable in said slot in the plate, a

8 second cylindrical pin fixed to the opposite side of said link at its opposite end and projecting through and slidable in said slot in the lever,- an angle metal connector having one arm rotatably and detachably secured to the free end of said one pin, an adjustable screw connection between the other arm of said connector and said brakeactuating member, a U-shaped nut member having its cross portion rotatably and detachably secured on the free end of said second pin, the two arms of said U-shaped nut member having aligned screw threaded openings, an adjusting screw swiveled between its ends on the lower part of said lever and having a fingerpiece at one end and screw threads at its other end engaged with the threads in said openings, said link being normally inclined in an upward and forward direction from said lever, the parts being so constructed and arranged that when said lever is swung from its brake-off position to it brake-on position, said link will push said slide in a forward direction to move said brake-actuating member forwardly, and the pin connecting said link to said lever will move from one side of said lever fulcrum to the opposite side thereof causing said lever to remain in its brake-on position until forced therefrom, and a stop on said plate to limit the upward swinging movement of said lever.

ALBERT ORSCHELN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 879,005 Rockstroh Feb. 11, 1908 2,171,403 Orscheln Aug, 29, 1939 2,313,768 Putt Mar. 16, 1943 2,398,596 Turtle Apr. 16, 1946 2,464,096 Orscheln Mar, 8, 1949 2,464,097 Orscheln Mar. 8, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 11,491 Great Britain May 19, 1904 717,982 France Jan. 16, 1932 

